To Fall In Love Is To Create A Religion That Has A Fallible God

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 18 April 2025 Reading Syed Sajjad Haider Yaldram, considered the first Urdu short story writer, I stumbled upon a statement, "Khuda-e-Ishq Mein Aksar Koi Na Koi Khaami Zaroor Hoti Hai" (The god of love often has a shortcoming). This reminded me of the great Latin American writer Jorge Luis Borges' famous quote, "To fall in love is to create a religion that has a fallible god." So very true! Jorge Luis Borges and Yaldram's quote encapsulate the complex and mysterious nature of love. Comparing the experience of falling in love to religious devotion, Borges and Yaldram suggest that when we enter a deep and profound romantic connection, we construct an intensely personal and subjective belief system. However, they also highlight the inherent imperfections and vulnerabilities that arise when we assign godlike qualities to our beloved. Just as religions have gods who are prone to making mistakes and facing human flaws, so too are our partners, the objects of our love. These poignant quotes illuminate the intricacies and contradictions inherent in the realm of passion, revealing that even in love's enchantment, the gods we create are flawed and susceptible to human fallibility. That's why, veteran Urdu poet Bashir Badr wrote, “Sar Jhukaoge Toh Patthar Devta Ho Jayega / Itna Na Chaho Use, Woh Bewafa Ho Jayega" (Revere a stone and it becomes a god / Never cling to it, else it abandons you). Not just in love, in all our deep associations and relationships in life, we create false and fallible gods only to be disillusioned eventually. We've created gods everywhere; in heaven, on earth, in our lives and in our relationships. One day, we realise that all these gods have feet of clay. We feel cheated. But the mistake was ours because we created them and what humans create is always fallible and can never be perfect. We start deifying revered characters like Dr B R Ambedkar, Shivaji, M K Gandhi, among others and start calling them gods. They were all humans. Give them respect but don't put them on the highest pedestal only to be disenchanted when you find a crack in their character. Years ago, I read in an Urdu magazine, "Apni Hasti Ko Mita Ke Kisi Ko Bada Mat Banaiye" (Don't make someone so big that you eventually expunge your own existence). Ho Chahe Koi Khuda Bhi/ Rahne De Apni Ana Bhi (Let someone be god/ You retain your amour propre). ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/fall-love-create-religion-fallible-god/d/135215 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism